By Elizabeth Garlow (ACCION USA Business Development Associate)

March 29th marks National Mom and Pop Business Day, a holiday dedicated to honoring those businesses typically owned and run by members of a family. These are the businesses that are often oozing with a small-scale, homelike or informal atmosphere.  Operating as a mom and pop business brings with it the challenge of building a reputation with minimal resources. Follow our three tips below to make sure that your business stands out!

Provide Stellar, Personal Service Support

As a mom and pop business, think about what it is that can differentiate you from a big national chain; it's that personal ‘above and beyond' support that you provide for your customers. As a mom and pop business, root yourself in developing, maintaining and strengthening relationships with your customers.  Remember that it is not just about the product or service you offer, but about creating a memorable experience for your customer, which builds word of mouth in a community.

Know your Product

Mom and pop businesses are outstanding performers in a niche market.  Knowing your product well allows you to create many new concepts and ideas, leading to further product innovation.  Utilize your knowledge to tap into a niche marketplace.  This strategy has worked well for ACCION USA client Adam Lantheaume, Founder and Owner of The Boston Shaker, a specialty cocktail business that sells ingredients, mixes and ideas to restaurants and consumers.

Adam participated in ‘Tales of the Cocktail', an annual gathering of the top international mixologists, bartenders, chefs and authors, to keep up on the latest industry trends. He shares his expertise to attract cocktail enthusiasts and tap into a loyal customer base.

Engage in Social Media as a Form of Conversation

Mom and Pop Businesses know that their business is only as successful as their relationships with their customers. Social media, or web-based tools used for sharing and discussing information among internet users, can be a way to engage in conversations on a daily basis, but with a wider audience.  Use social media tools to listen to your customers and use their suggestions to improve your business.  Brief messaging through social media online encourages people to spread news about your business to their network of family and friends! 

Consider the following tools to get started:

• Rating Your Business - Create profiles on sites such as Yelp!, City Search, Yahoo!Local, and Insider Pages, where people can rate your business and products for other people to see.  Include a link to your website in your profile.
• Twitter - "Tweet" the latest news about your business in 140 characters or less.  You might tweet special deals you're having one week, for example. Use key words that involve the location of your business to target followers who might buy your product.
• Website - Yola.com provides people with the opportunity to set up a FREE website.  AUSA has held several webinars with Yola to explain the website-making process and the strategy behind it.  (For more information, click here.)

Big congratulations to all Mom and Pop businesses out there. You are well on your way to standing out!